Atiku Abubakar, the former vice president, has urged the Nigerian Senate to review and alter the Electoral Act 2022 immediately, citing legal flaws as a contributing factor to purported anomalies in the general elections of 2023.
Atiku emphasized in a posting on his Facebook page on Thursday that the current legal system made it “nearly impossible for petitioners to advance their cases in the courts,” which made it feasible for what he called “brazen rigging” to occur in 2023.
He emphasized that fixing these issues is crucial to preserving the legitimacy of the 2027 elections, and he urged legislators to make sure that any changes are approved in time to regulate subsequent elections.
“It is essential that the legal instrument for the conduct of the 2027 and subsequent elections is reviewed at a time when the mistakes of the 2023 elections are still fresh,” Atiku stated.
Citing a recent study by the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) as an indictment of parliamentary inertia, he voiced worry that the Senate seemed inclined to obstruct or postpone the passage of the amendments.
“The credibility of the 2027 general elections hinges on the urgency with which the Senate treats this crucial bill,” Atiku warned. “It is imperative that the Senate finalises the amendments and ensures the updated law governs the conduct of the 2027 elections. Anything short of this is a deliberate attempt to rig the election long before the ballots are cast.”
